Nicky Morgan: We will step up our school reforms so every child can thrive

The Conservatives will tackle failing and coasting schools with a new Bill in
the Queen's Speech, says Nicky Morgan

Photo: Alamy

By Nicky Morgan, Education Secretary

12:01AM BST 17 May 2015

Every section of our manifesto spelled out that the Conservatives are the real party of working people. If you want the opportunity to succeed and fulfil your potential, we’re the ones who are foursquare behind you.

This is especially true for the most disadvantaged in our society, who for too long have not had the same life chances as others. Our mission for this Parliament is very clear. We want to spread opportunity and hope for everyone, and bring real fairness to our country.

That starts with how we prepare our children for life. A good education is the ultimate vehicle for change, giving every child the building blocks they need to make something of their life. A good teacher can raise you up. A high-performing school can help you to overcome disadvantage.

This is what our one nation approach is about. Creating a country where everyone has the opportunity and support needed to succeed no matter who you are.

A lot has been achieved in our schools in recent years, not by government or politicians, but by thousands of teachers, governors and school leaders who embraced our plan for education and put it into effect.

It’s because of their efforts that 102,000 more six-year-olds are now on track to read properly, that the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has narrowed, that 90,000 more pupils are taking the core academic GCSEs that open doors in the future, and that the number of pupils in good or outstanding schools has increased by more than one million since 2010.

However despite the progress we have made, far too many young people’s life chances are still determined by where they are born. Take one area of the North West. In Wirral, 60 per cent of young people achieve five or more A* to C grade GCSEs, including English and maths. But just across the River Mersey in Knowsley that number plummets to just 35 per cent.

Put simply, a child in Knowsley is little better than half as likely to get the crucial qualifications they need to get on and succeed in life. That is unacceptable.

So our big priorities will be to speed up the process for tackling failing schools; extend our academies programme to tackle ‘coasting’ schools; and deliver on our commitment to open new free schools.

First, we will take new powers to step in from the moment that a school is found to be failing. From day one, Regional Schools Commissioners will be able to bring in new leadership and support from other excellent schools and heads, and we will speed up the process of turning schools into academies to make sure that new expert leadership is found for all schools that need it as quickly as possible.

We know that this approach works. Already, hundreds of schools, many in our most disadvantaged areas, have been transformed to deliver an exceptional education for the young people in their charge. But in too many cases, bureaucracy and legal hurdles are being put in the way of swift academisation – meaning it is taking too long to provide the challenge and support that is urgently needed.

Downhills primary school, where campaigners fought moves to turn it into an academy (David Levene/The Guardian)

Take for example Tottenham’s Harris Primary Academy Philip Lane, which opened in 2012 in the place of the underperforming Downhills Primary School. Since becoming an academy, the proportion of pupils leaving primary school able to read, write and add up properly has risen by more than 25 per cent.

But the progress at Downhills was delayed by a long-running campaign by those on the side of the status quo, who exploited loopholes to delay the improvements that pupils so desperately needed. Our new legislation will remove these loopholes – so that any child who is being failed by their school cannot be left waiting for support.

Second, we’ll introduce new powers to intervene not just in failing schools, but in coasting schools – with a clear message that it is not OK to be just above the level of failing.

These schools must improve too and will be put on immediate notice and required to work with our team of expert head teachers. Those that aren’t able to demonstrate a clear plan for improvement will be given new leadership – we know this works in turning schools around.

Third, we will make an immediate start on delivering our commitment to open 500 new free schools.

These new schools will not only create 270,000 more school places, but will also allow thousands more parents who aren’t happy with the schools on offer the option of greater choice for their children so they can go to a great school.

Five years have passed since we began our work to reform England’s schools but our vision has remained the same: of schools where every child is given the knowledge and skills they need to succeed; where every child is given the opportunity to decide who they want to be; and above all, where every child, regardless of birth or background is able to achieve their potential. That is what this Government will deliver.